Restoring a dented rubber rear bumper
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 269
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St. Jude Contributor
Restoring a dented rubber rear bumper
The lower corner of my rubber rear bumper was hit before I got it. Its buckled a little bit, sort of folded over on the area next to the exaust pipe. The top has seperated about 1/2 inch from the body from the stress.
Has anyone ever tried pushing the rubber back into place? Someone mentioned that heating it up might work. If that's the way to go, how do you think it should be heated? Foil and a blowtorch?
I'm not worried about paint ... I'm painting the whole car later anyway.
I'll post a pic of it tonight.
If it can't be done, how much do you think a used bumper is worth?
Thanks.
Has anyone ever tried pushing the rubber back into place? Someone mentioned that heating it up might work. If that's the way to go, how do you think it should be heated? Foil and a blowtorch?
I'm not worried about paint ... I'm painting the whole car later anyway.
I'll post a pic of it tonight.
If it can't be done, how much do you think a used bumper is worth?
Thanks.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Restoring a dented rubber rear bumper (Marc78)
Here's the picture. The dent is on the right.
I think if I get new mounting hardware, I might be able to secure the top again.
Whaddya think? Is it possible, or am I just kidding myself? :rolleyes:
I think if I get new mounting hardware, I might be able to secure the top again.
Whaddya think? Is it possible, or am I just kidding myself? :rolleyes:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 9,662
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From: Semper ubi, sub ubi
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Restoring a dented rubber rear bumper (Marc78)
Marc, I'm certainly not an expert on rubber bumper cars, but it looks like that there is probably some support structure under that bumper cover, that is dented.
Hopefully someone who really knows something can tell you what's under there. If you have a copy of the AIM for your car, it might show you.
Hopefully someone who really knows something can tell you what's under there. If you have a copy of the AIM for your car, it might show you.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 247
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From: las vegas nv
Re: Restoring a dented rubber rear bumper (Marc78)
Hi Marc. we fix rubber covers all the time at our shop. i think you can buy the retainers( the strips that hold it on). Anyway , get some of those , pull the bumper and heat it up with a heat gun. kinda like a hair dryer on steroids, and heat it and push it out at the same time. most of it should come out. the problem is going to be with getting the high spots down. like where it's pooched out at the top. if you can get that part of it down far enough you can grind it a little and fill the low spots with some "duramix 40-40" good stuff and properly applied will last forever. I glued a lincoln town car front cover with it once and about 2 months later the car came back with the front end torn off of it. the bumper repair still held tight. wear some gloves and use a small piece of wood to push it back in to shape, cuz if it's cool enough to touch, it aint hot enuff!!.once you get it pretty close cool it off with an air blower and it should stay put. any questions, shoot me an e-mail. glad to help if i can. regards, Judd
